Using Cooking Skills as Coping Skills for Motherhood

All Puffy

I was standing in Whole Foods the other day in awe of how many options there are for vegetarians these days besides good old TMP (textured vegetable protein). Veggie Dogs, Veggie Burgers, Veggie Deli Meats, Veggie Nuggets, the list goes on and on. I have to add that the flavor or most of these items are pretty good as well. Yes, they are all processed and some are full of sodium, but a veggie dog will always be a healthier option than the real dog.

As I was looking at all of the various knock off meats my eyes stopped by a product located next to the Kim Chi. It was a large flat square wrapped in packaging stating that it was called Mochi. The description on the packaging stated the following: “Mochi is a traditional Japanese food made from short-grain sweet rice. We steam then pound the rice to accentuate its chewy texture and nutty flavor. Bake Mochi-amazing!-it puffs up, creating a chewy moist muffin with a crispy crust. Mochi is satisfying whole grain treat known for promoting stamina. 100% NON-DAIRY and WHEAT-FREE.”

I was hooked. It had me at “puffs up.” I can’t seem to resist anything that puffs up. Between 2 options of plain flavored and cinnamon and raisin, I took the latter. I brought it home and immediately put it to work. Following the directions I cut the block into one inch squares and placed it on a baking sheet, placed it in a 450 oven and watched in amazement. It was like watching Shrinky Dinks do their magic. The food transforms from a hard, flat, dense block into a nicely browned puff ball in about 10-12 minutes.

The best part about these fun little healthy puffs is that they are hollow in the center so they can be filled. The package gave directions for a filling that when stuffed in the Mochi would resemble a raisin-cinnamon danish. It was pretty dreamy, I have to admit. And knowing that there are a lot less calories and way more nutrients in this dessert compared to an actual danish, I felt a lot better about serving it.

Raisin-Cinnamon Mochi Danish

printed on the Grainaissance Mochi packaging

4 2-inch squares of Raisin-Cinnamon Mochi

4 tsp. cream cheese

1/2 walnuts, chopped

4 tsp honey

Mix ingredients together.

Bake Mochi squares as stated on package.

Remove Mochi From oven and let cool.

With a sharp knife, cut a slit in one side of each Mochi pocket and stuff with mixture.

Related

Post navigation

6 thoughts on “All Puffy”

Yay, Motherchef… how I have missed your posts! Glad you are back, and with such an interesting topic. I recently read a wonderfully descriptive book about growing up Japanese-American that had lots of amazing recipes in it, Bento Box in the Heartland: My Japanese Girlhood in Whitebread America by Linda Furiya. You should check it out when you have the chance, I think you’d like it.

Oh, and my favorite veggie meat product has to be the Morningstar Farms mini-corndogs. So bad, yet so yummy!

Erin – love the new look of the blog! i haven’t visited in a while, you have made some great stuff. These look so good, my husband has a sweet tooth and has dessert every night – this will be a great alternative!

BTW, I scoured the crowd looking for you on the Green City Market episode of Top Chef, but couldn’t find you. That market looks amazing though!

I can’t wait until this 9 inches of snow we got yesterday melts and our markets open. Maybe that will happen by the 4th of July…

Hello. This post is likeable, and your blog is very interesting, congratulations :-). I will add in my blogroll =). If possible gives a last there on my blog, it is about the Wireless, I hope you enjoy. The address is http://wireless-brasil.blogspot.com. A hug.

Just to clarify, Kristi’s “fat husband” does not eat dessert each and every night. But a source close to the couple has said the real problem lies with Kristi constantly making tasty treats and using her husband as a tasting lab rat.

This is something we will look for at the grocery store for sure! Great blog!

Thanks to everyone for the compliments.Jen, I must get that book. Sounds fabulous. I too love the Morningstar mini-corndogs. Really, how can you not.AnonymousI, I agree that different fillings would be really fun to try. Get creative and let me know!Kristi-Good luck getting through the last of the winter. I know how you feel, but I think you have it worse. No cameo on top chef, but yes, it is the best market I have ever been to.Source Close to Kristi & Her Husband-I know deep down that my husband would probably be a waif if I didn’t cook for him, however I don’t shove it down his throat. He too is my lab rat and even when it’s bad he eats it because he loves me. So, you…um, I mean Kristi’s husband, is just being a good husband by eating everything she makes. A good marriage is worth a couple of lbs., right?